INTRODUCTION

From the beginning of human existence, man has familiarized himself with plants and used
them in a variety of ways throughout the ages. Primitive man in search of food and to cope
successfully with human sufferings began to distinguish those plants suitable for medicinal
purpose from others with definitive pharmacological action. This relationship between plants
and man has grown and many plants came to be used as medicines.

Nature has bestowed our country with an enormous wealth of medicinal plants. Therefore
India has often been referred as the medicinal garden of the world. The clinical use of plants
described in Indian Vedas for curing different diseases. India has unique position in the
world where a number of recognized traditional system of medicine i, e Ayurveda, Sidda,
Unani, Homeopathy, Yoga and Naturopathy.

Many food crops have medicinal effects, for ex-Garlic. Studying medicinal plants helps to
understand plant toxicity and protect human and animals from natural poisons. The
medicinal effects of plants are due to secondary metabolite production of the plants. Keeping
this in the consideration there have been increased waves of interest in the field of research
natural product chemistry.

This interest of using medicinal plants can be due to several factors, including therapeutic
needs, the remarkable diversity of both chemical structure and biological activities of
naturally occurring secondary metabolites, the utility of knowledge bio active natural
compounds as biochemical probes, the development of novel and sensitive techniques to
detect the biological active natural products , improved techniques to isolate, purify, and
structurally characterize these active constituents, and advance in solving the demand for
supply of complex natural products.

The therapeutic potential of plant products can be traced back to over five thousand
years ago as there is evidence of its use in the treatment of diseases and for revitalizing body
systems in Indian, Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, and Roman civilizations. India has about 4.5
million plant species and among them estimated only 250,000-500,000 plant species, have
been investigated phytochemically for biological constituents or plants extracts.. Herbal
medicines helps to boost one’s energy level, increase nutrients, restore body cells, and
enhance a person’s immunity Pharmacotherapy a range of drugs of plant origin, known by
ancient civilizations and used throughout the millennia.

The knowledge of the development of the ideas related to the usage of medicinal plants as
well as the evolution of awareness has increased the ability of pharmacists and physicians to
respond to the challenges that have emerged with the spreading of professional services in
facilitation of man’s life. .

Medicinal plants with antioxidant propertied can also help to maintain oxidative
balance within the body system. Herbal drugs which are cost-effective than synthetic drugs
in many cases are being promoted by most of the developing countries, and they have started
discovering and filing patents on the medicinal plants and their derivatives.

Plant- derived substances have recently become of great owing to their versatile applications.
Medicinal plants are the richest bio-resource of drugs of traditional systems of medicine,
modern medicines, neutraceticals, food suplements, folk medicines, pharmaceutical
intermediates and chemical entities for synthetic drugs the medicinal plants are the source of
herbal drug production that the bioactive components which are present in a leaf, root, stem,
and bark and wood. These bioactive components commonly known as phytochemicals.
These phytochemicals control the damage and protect plants and also have the significant
medicinal activity in the treating of various diseases in humans. On this basis the plants are
used as ethenomedicines. The metabolites like alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids,
carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and saponins etc.

Bryophyllum pinnatum is a succulent plant that belongs to the family Crassulaceae. It

is commonly known as air plant, love plant, miracle leaf and life. Bryophyllum pinnatum is a
perennial herb that grow up to 60-120 cm tall with branches and can survive harsh and dry
environmental conditions . The plant is erect and herbaceous. The stem is fleshy and
glaborous. The leaves are also fleshy, flattened and oppositely arranged on the stem which
are green or yellowish-green in colour about 5-20 cm longThe plant is mostly found in the
tropical and subtropical areas like Asia, Australia, China, Nigeria, New Zealand, West
Indies, Hawaii(Gill L S 1992 and Olajide O A 1998).

The plant is astringent, sour in taste and the leaves and bark are bitter tonic astringent to the
bowels, analgesic, carminative, useful in treating diarrhea and vomiting and also
antimicrobial(Akinpelu D A et al 2000), antifungal, antiulcer, antihypertensive, ant diabetic,
anti inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing properties(Ojewole J. A et al 2005). It has
gained considerable attention in treating diseases due to its bioactive components. These
bioactivities have been attributed to phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids,
steroids, glycosides, flavonoids and bufadienolides and lipids(Anju K et al 2009). The leaf
juice of the plant is significantly used in treatment of different kinds of ailments such as
blood dysentery, gout, jaundice, cough, bronchial infections. The leaf juice of the plant is
significantly used in treatment of different kinds of ailments such as blood dysentery, gout,
jaundice, cough, bronchial infections.

The flowers are bell-shaped, drooping (pendulous) and are arranged in branched clusters at
the tips of the stem. The fruit is papery and membranous with four compartments with
brownish colored seeds.

 LIST OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR USES

Scientific Name Parts used Treated diseases

Adathoda vesica Leaves, whole plant Cough,cold,bronchitis,
Fever, piles.

Achyranthus aspera Whole plant Stop bleeding, dysentery

Rheumatism, skin diseases.

Mangifera indica Fruit, seed, bark and Diarrhea,diabetes,asthama

latex Constipation, diphtheria and
Cough.
Leaves, whole plant Diabetes, fever
Coccinia cordifolia and gonorrhea.

Fruit Hair fall.

Dillenia indica
fruit Dyspepsia, ulcers, diabetes,
Phyllanthus emblica Cough,asthama, hair fall,
And dysentery.
Root, bark and leaves Headache, eye disease, teeth ache,
Albizia lebbeck bronchitis, night blindness.

Michelia champaka Bark, bark of root, Dyspepsia, vomiting, fever, diabetes,

flower, fruit, gonorrhea headache, eye disease and
Leaves and oils. rheumatism.
Tinospora cordifolia Whole plant Skin diseases,fever,diabetes,jaundice,piles
 Mimosa oudica Whole plant Skin disease, urinary problem, scabies,
piles and jaundice.

Leaves,bark,flower and Fever,ulcer,diabetes,dysentery,constipatio

seeds n
Azardirachta indica and antiseptic
Alocasia indica Root, leaves Constipation, rheumatism

Piper betle Green leaves Constipation, ear disease.

 DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetes mellitus is increasingly prevalent and continuous to be a leading health

burden worldwide, with consistence increases in mortality due to the complications
associated with the diseases, such as coronary heart disease, nephropathy and
neurodegeneration. Traditionally, the plants naturally contain healing properties for various
ailments, have been used for generations to generations, and play an important role in
leading modern medicine to where it is now.

There are some medicinal plants believed to treat diabetes, and scientific studies have
reported certain medicinal plants do contain antidibetic properties, such as improved insulin
sensitivity and hypoglycemic activities. This is often associated with their high level of
phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids alkaloids and glycosides, which can improve
insulin secretions as well as blood glucose.

Diabetes can be described as a chronic metabolic disorder, characterized by persist

hyperglycemic with disturbance of carbohydrates, proteins and fat metabolism due to
inadequacy in insulin secretion and its absorption. It results either insufficient emission of
insulin hormone and inadequate reaction of target cells to insulin or a combination of these
components. The insulin hormone is secreted by the β-cells in the pancreatic cells. The
diabetes mellitus is caused by the insulin deficiency characterized by hyperglycemia,
excessive urination i,e polyuria, glycosuria in which the glucose as an abnormal constituent
in urine and the metabolism of the carbohydrates, proteins and fats are affected (Mukesh
kumar et al 2016).

The number of diabetes mellitus cases has been increasing worldwide in recent years. In
2000 the WHO (World Health Organization) this is affected around 2.8% of the world
population and is estimated to cross 5.4% by the year 2025 by the investigation([Link] AI
Snafi 2023)

Diabetes mellitus is of two types

TYPE-1 Diabetes: is insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Around 10-15% of patients have
this polygenic disorder. The pancreas produces insufficient quantity of insulin. Outcomes the
demand of insulin injections to restrict the blood glucose level. It is characterized by an
instantaneous start, usually before the age of 30 years.

TYPE-2 Diabetes: is non – insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. It results from a decrease in
the amount of insulin produced and decrease in the sensitivity of the cells to insulin. Around
90-95% of patients have type -2 diabetes. This type -2 diabetes is treated with exercise and
diet, and if elevated glucose levels persist, diet is supplemented with oral hypoglycemic
agents. Those individuals who usually control type – 2 diabetes by the action of diet,
physical exercise, in their body, may be required insulin injection(Shilubane N H 2010).

Chronic hypoglycemia degenerates the β- cells of langerhans of the pancreas which

decreases the production and secretion of insulin, which leads to an increase in the glucose
level more than normal which produces insulin resistance(Rosyid F N 2021).

The presently marketed classes of anti diabetic agents produce a variety of actions that
can be combined in a supporting and supplementary manner, only a small patient population
follows the recommended targets for optimal glycaemic control and normal glucose balance.
There are various side effects associated with synthetic diabetic drugs based on this, herbal
preparations are considered safer and having fewer side effects when compared to synthetic
drugs. Herbal preparations are an a emerging good source of new hypoglycemic agents to
develop a new era pharmaceutical, neutraceutical. As well as a health supplement to
available remedies. There are many medicinal plants which are involved in the treatment of
diabetes among these the Bryophyllum pinnatum is a natural resource. In spite of the
enormous medicinal activities of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves, it is reported on the anti
diabetic activity. The plant extract is used to inhibit the- amylase enzyme that leads to
adequate absorption and secretion of insulin this result in control of diabetes.

Amylases are a group of enzymes widely present in plants, animals and microorganisms are
found to produce different protein inhibitors of alpha amylase in order to control the
operation of these enzymes. That catalyses the hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages in starch
and various other oligosaccharides. α- amylase are the important enzymes involved in the
metabolism of carbohydrates and also involved in the breakdown of long chain
carbohydrates. They serve as the leading digestive enzymes and help in intestinal absorption.
For the treatment of diabetes, α-Amylase is the possible target in the development of further
compounds.

The digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fat is carried out with the help of different gut
enzymes. The inhibition of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes like alpha-amylase delays
the digestion and absorption of starch and later suppresses the postprandial symptom. Alpha-
amylase inhibitory activities of the medicinal plant like Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extracts
and fractions are helpful as oral anti diabetic drugs for the management of high blood sugar
in patients with diabetes. Inhibitions of the enzyme interrupt macro molecule digestion and
overall extend the breakdown time

Some specific enzymes that carry out the digestion of α-amylase catalyses the conversion of
polysaccharides converts into disaccharides and monosaccharide and then thmonosaccharide
is been absorbed in the stomach and small intestine. The breakdown of polysaccharides to
monosaccharides in the alimentary canal occurs at a single [Link] of α-Amylase can
be an important strategy in management of post prandial blood glucose level in the type-2
diabetes patients(Kartic KS et al 2008)

The use of medicinal plants for the diabetes treatment as well as for different ailments
related to human health gives the less toxicity and low side effects by its curative property as
compared to synthetic drugs. To achieve this different plants and their parts are used by
considering their medicinal properties.
TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom - Plantae

Division - Spermatophyta

Class - Magnoliopsida

Order - Rosales

Family - Crassulaceae

Genus - Bryophyllum

Species - [Link]